DeLorme Earthmate PN-40 review

The DeLorme Earthmate PN-40 updates the PN-20, which was already one of the most innovative GPS receivers out there. Quite simply, the PN-40 rocks, adding the following new features:

• A dual-core processor makes map redraws and menu navigation very fast, correcting the biggest flaw in the PN-20
• Tri-axial electronic compass (meaning there is no need to hold it dead level)
• Barometric altimeter
• SDHC high-capacity SD card support
• A more detailed base map

And hardware isn't the only improvement. The previous ala carte imagery plan is gone; an annual, all you can eat download $29.95 subscription plan now gets you aerial imagery, USGS topos and NOAA marine charts galore. It's an incredible deal.

Compare prices on the DeLorme PN-40

With that overview,lets take a detailed look at the PN-40.

DeLorme PN-40 interface

The interface can seem a bit complex at first, but I found it to be fairly intuitive. Here’s a tip — the Menu button will bring up a different set of options for each screen; you’ll end up using it frequently. For example, to search for geographic POIs, you press Find > Menu > Natural Features.

Like many Garmin handhelds, the PN-40 sports Page and Quit buttons, with the former advancing through pages and the latter doing it in reverse order. I love units that offer this easy way to navigate screens. I typically put the most important screens just ahead or behind the map screen, knowing I can easily access them with this feature.

The placement of the Power button makes it easy to accidentally press, but you have to confirm that you want to shutdown by pressing Enter, so this isn't really that big of a deal.

Tones to warn of turns default to little chirps; great in the woods as they sound kind of like bird calls, but they're a poor substitute for spoken directions for auto navigation.

The screen is relatively small compared to other recently released GPS units (see below), but it is much more visible in various daylight conditions than some of the high-resolution units on the market.

DeLorme PN-40 imagery

While the PN-40 comes with DeLorme's Topo USA 7.0, giving you detailed vector topo maps for the unit, I can't imagine anyone getting the PN-40 and not ponying up for the $29.95 annual imagery plan. It includes:

• 1:24,000 scale USGS topo maps
• B/W aerial imagery
• Color aerial imagery
• High-resolution color aerial imagery for 133 U.S. cities
• NOAA marine charts
• SAT 10 imagery

These are downloaded and transferred to the unit via Topo USA. Don't expect super sharp imagery at every zoom level; this would require additional raster imagery and dramatically increase memory requirements. The PN-40 handles this pretty well though, switching from one type of imagery to another as you zoom in or out. This layering of map data can be customized by the user. Here are some sample screen shots of the different types of imagery...

DeLorme PN-40 on the road

While the PN-40 can be used for highway routing, it's really not comparable to having a dedicated auto GPS unit. You'll only get a 2-D view, like the screen to the right. The worse drawback is that there are no spoken directions, just beeps and chirps. The maps are not as complete or current as those found on most auto units either.

EDIT: My testing was more extensive on the trail than on the road. For a more detailed look at the PN-40's highway routing capabilities, see this comment below.

DeLorme PN-40 on the trail / Using TOPO USA

It's really wonderful to have access to USGS topos and aerial photos right on the PN-40. I live back east now, underneath dense southern Appalachian hardwood canopy, where aerial photos are of limited value on single-track trails. But the imagery really shines in more open landscapes, urban areas, fire roads, etc. Folks using the PN-40 in such settings may find aerial photos very helpful indeed. 

In my experience, the PN-40 did an excellent job of navigating to individual waypoints and trackbacks. 

When I prepare for a hike, I typically load a track showing the exact location of the trail. I usually find these to be much more accurate than the trail placement on any maps. If the trail is new to me, I search for tracks online at places like MotionBased.com. One of the great advantages of the PN-40 and Topo USA is the ability to convert such .gpx tracks to routable lines, giving you an accurate "distance to destination" rather than straight line mileage. This is really wonderful -- accurate trails on the map, showing accurate distances. 

Nevertheless, I found taking advantage of this to be a frustrating experience. Topo USA is very powerful mapping software, but is renowned for its learning curve, partially due to a non-standardized interface. Neither downloading and transferring maps, nor importing tracks and waypoints was that difficult. But I found that converting tracks to routable lines, utilizing them in routes, and getting them to work the way I wanted on the PN-40 to be the most challenging aspect of using the package.

Oh, one quick backcountry tip before I leave this section -- to navigate to a point on the map, pan the map and then mark a waypoint there.

Geocaching with the DeLorme PN-40

With the recent public beta 2.5 firmware (you must be logged in to see the download links), the PN-40 now supports paperless geocaching (screen shots below).

DeLorme has a "Send to GPS" feature on geocaching.com, and pocket queries will be easier to handle once they release their Cache Register widget.

DeLorme PN-40 pros

• Aerial imagery, USGS topo maps
• Reasonable priced all you can download imagery subscription plan
• Detailed hard-copy owners manual included
• Topo USA included in purchase
  
• Triaxial electronic compass
• Fast redraws
• Paperless geocaching
• Good visibility in various daylight conditions
• Excellent support forum

DeLorme PN-40 cons

• Small screen
• Detailed maps and imagery are limited to the U.S.
• There is no altimeter / elevation screen, and while you can display the maximum and minimum elevation in user-selected data fields, there is no way to see your overall elevation gain; likewise, while you can display the ambient pressure, you cannot view a pressure plot over time
• Unintuitive software (Topo USA)

Conclusions and recommendations

The PN-40 is, hands down, the best GPS on the market with aerial photos and USGS topo maps. It is also one of the best units on the market for geocachers.

I still like the Garmin Oregon's paperless geocaching interface better than the DeLorme, but urban cachers and others in open landscapes may find aerial imagery more important. If you go to Groundspeak, geocaching.com's message board, you can clearly see that DeLorme has captured the hearts and minds of many in the geocaching community.

I am recommending the PN-40 as the best handheld for anyone interested in aerial imagery and USGS topo maps. I'll also be updating my geocaching, hiking and biking pages, adding the PN-40 to my list of recommended units. It's that good.

The powerful but complex Topo USA program must be considered as well, however. As a result, I am reluctant to recommend the PN-40 for first-time GPS owners, people who have difficulty learning new software, or anyone who wants a grab n' go unit letting them hit the trail with minimal prep time.

One final comment -- I'm not sure how big of a market share DeLorme can grab with the PN-40, but for the first time in years, Garmin has some real competition in the handheld GPS market. And that is a good thing because monopolies don't foster innovation.

More DeLorme PN-40 reviews

• Consumer-authored DeLorme PN-40 reviews have been posted at Amazon
• GPSReview.net has posted their own DeLorme PN-40 review
• About.com gives a 3.5 out 5 star rating in their PN-40 review
• A personal review of the PN-40
• SingleTracks.com has also posted a DeLorme Earthmate PN-40 review; here is part 2
• A PN-40 review from TripleBlaze.com
• Carolinas Outdoors reviews the DeLorme PN-40
• A first impressions review of the DeLorme PN-40

I'll be posting more hands on GPS reviews as they appear, but in the meantime, here are some...

Other DeLorme PN-40 resources

• A PDF version of the DeLorme PN-40 owners manual
• The DeLorme PN-40 message forums are excellent resources
• The official DeLorme Earthmate PN-40 web page
• My DeLorme RAM mount review

Compare prices on the DeLorme PN-40 at these merchants:

• Check the current DeLorme Earthmate PN-40 price at Amazon
• Get the DeLorme Earthmate PN-40 Handheld GPS with Topo 7.0 & 1GB SD Card at TigerGPS, where you get free shipping on orders above $250
• Check out the deal on a DeLorme Earthmate PN-40 GPS Bundle at REI.com, where satisfaction is guaranteed and members get 10% back on eligible purchases
• Get the DeLorme PN-40 for an amazing price on eBay

Related posts:

• Our GPS reviews
• Handheld GPS buyers guide
• Top ten handheld GPS

Comments

[Leszek Pawlowicz]

Rich,

How does the position acquisition speed and accuracy compare with Garmin units?

[Rich Owings]

Leszek,

The more I learn about these units, the more I realize how hard it is to compare them. In less than scientific tests, the tracklogs seemed comparable to the 60CSx. TTFF was slow when I first got the unit, but following firmware updates, seemed greatly improved. With the latest update, it is quite fast indeed. Hope that helps.

[Leszek Pawlowicz]

Then it seems like the biggest downside in terms of the hardware is the screen size. If it were the same size as the 60Cx screen, I'd seriously consider buying it now.

[maingray]

"While the PN-40 can be used for highway routing, it's really not comparable to having a dedicated auto GPS unit. You'll only get a 2-D view, like the screen to the right. The worse drawback is that there are no spoken directions, just beeps and chirps. The maps are not as complete or current as those found on most auto units either."

Not sure you tested this very much, PN-40 is on the verge of abysmal for road routing.

I feel it is pertinent to compare this to even the other Garmin "on the trail" handhelds loaded up with City Navigator, not just the dedicated car units.

The routable included maps are terrible..and there isn't any premium option for road based navigation. Topo-based roads (as opposed to dedicated maps such as Navteq) which are often in the wrong location on the map (try overlaying different map sets..) and not tabulated for one-way etc. Bridges across interstates are often interpreted as ramps. State Road designation ("Take a left on SR1323".. no, I want to take a left on Main Street!) often supersedes the road name. Auto-routing (i.e route re-calculation after taking a wrong turn is slow and buggy). POI are topo-based as well, so sparse and often irrelevant. Why Delorme can't release a copy of their autonavigation maps for their handhelds is beyond me.

Great review otherwise, PN-40 is getting there. It just depends, as you state, how much you value imagery over other features. The geocaching paperless can only get better.... you might want to mention that someone has baked up a script to send GPX files to the unit rather than just one-by-one via the "send to" plugn on the gc.com page. You can find it on the Delorme community support forum (a great place for support Qs)

[Rich Owings]

If you want the aerial imagery and USGS topos, I don't think the screen size would bother you that much. It seems much more of an issue in deciding to purchase than how people feel about it in the field.

[Rich Owings]

Thanks maingray. Good info for prospective buyers. I definitely did more testing on the trail than on the road. My highway testing was limited to around Asheville, NC. I've linked to your comment from the "PN-40 on the road" section above.